Online gamers prefer PCs over PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii says PlusNet

Broadband subscribers are still using their PCs for online gaming rather than investing in separate games consoles according to research published by PlusNet.

Although the console market is growing and becoming more competitive, the research found that the majority of gamers still need convincing of this. Just over two thirds (64 per cent) of those questioned said they had never used a console for online gaming.

Of those who do use a console, Microsoft's Xbox 360 ranked top with just over a fifth of those surveyed claiming to own one.

Custom maps, mods, game modes, privately owned and run servers, cost (XBL) ACTUAL PING readings (not colored dots where a green could be 150ms ping which should never be labeled good)... the list goes on and on.

Nothing wrong with consoles if you are okay with being limited to what you can do.

This holds true to me i play allot more games on my pc rather than on my 360 or ps3! pc has the biggest online install base bigger than ps3 and 360 put together and why you ask well my opinion is because multiplayer games started on the PC, they have a longer life span hence mods/plugins which keeps games fresh and re-playable, endless possibilities a console may reach its potential and not be able to go any further which as for the pc they come out with new technology every couple months etc....

"However said companies such as [Nintendo] and Sony, which have designed their Wii and PS3 consoles especially for online gaming" Is that a joke or something? I can understand Sony(who is still a newcomer in comparsion to Microsoft for online gaming) but Nintendo?

pc online gaming pi55's on console online! CS:S for example, its so easy to find what you want, joining is as easy as 2 simple clicks, its so much quicker and generally all dedicated servers! the console online world is still young and developing and im sure will catch up to where pc's are now! although i recommend not leaving your pc under an open window, it seriously reduces your pc gaming.... *tear runs down cheek*

edit: @ Capt CHAOS.... we'll the biggest server ive played on was 64 players i think (pretty hectic i can tell ya) buy ive seen severs with a 128 player max, crazy lag tho i would of thought!

I don't know much about CS:S but used to play CS and without even knowing much about it, I can take a good guess at assuming that the console version (if/when it comes out), will be limited to 16 players whilst the PC version is 24 player+ ?

gamer all the way until XBL was formed. Taking some ques from SEGA, and now I rather XBL. I got sick of some of the cheating on PC's. To me th e PC architecture is too open and will always be like that, for one of the reason, anybody can jump on.

Either way, MS has a stake in 2 out of the 3 platforms. Seems like they are forcing a lot of hardcore players to get Vista, and dabble in Windows Live for Games, and to buy DX10 cards. It really won't kick in with Crysis, and Spore and some other major games pushing the new PC aritectures.

I don't play online too terribly much, but I do play SC and WC3. Even if these were on a console, and even if it was the Wii (free online, wiimote can move as fast as my hand, like a mouse), I'd rather play them on my PC. Why? Because I know more people are on the PC. If I though more people were playing on the console, I would get used to it there (another problem, its different and takes getting used to), I'd be on the console.

The simple fact of the matter is that if there is a choice between a game on the console and on the PC, and its for online, PC wins, because its not a well hidden fact that more people plan on the PC online. There is a better chance of finding someone of your skill level to play with and a better chance the game will be popular for a longer time, just because of the numbers of people who play.